#8 Utica College 9, Buffalo State 3 - Box Score

Utica, N.Y. (12/3/2011) – The nationally-ranked No.8 Utica College men's hockey team exploded for six third period goals to earn a convincing 9-3 victory over visiting Buffalo State Saturday night in front of 3,109 fans at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.  Eight different players scored at least two points for UC, including sophomore forward Jon Gaffney (Dover, NJ/Springfield Blues (NAHL)) -- who netted a team-best two goals -- including the game's opening and closing goals.   The Pioneers (6-3) were able to shake a two game slide as they improved their record to 5-1 at home this season. 

It seemed as if Buffalo State had an answer for every UC goal in the first 40 minutes of play.  When Gaffney opened the scoring 4:21 into the first, Buffalo State's Nick Melligan found the back of the net just 12 second later to knot the score at 1-1. 

Senior captain Tim Coffman (Elverson, PA/Laconia (AJHL)) opened the second period scoring with his fourth goal of the year, but the Bengals responded right away once again, 40 seconds later, when Trevor McKinney scored his first of two goals to tie the game at 2-2 5:36 into the second. 

With just under six minutes to go in the second the Bengals put a real scare in UC when McKinney netted the go-ahead goal to put Buffalo State on top 3-2.  This time it was Utica answering the call by way of senior defender Josh Schmitt (Buffalo, NY/Buffalo (OPJHL))'s first goal of the year with 3:09 left in the second. 

The third period was all Utica as the Pioneers outshot the visitors 17-8 and more importantly they outscored the Bengals 6-0.  All six of the Utica goals came in a span of 11:34 in the third.  Sophomore defender Steve Zappia (Buffalo, NY/Buffalo Jr. Sabres (OJAHL)), who registered three points on the night, opened the third period scoring.  Freshman Mike Baird (Oakville, Ontario/Huntsville (OJHL)) recorded his first collegiate goal before sophomore Trever Hertz (Jaffray, British Columbia/Quesnel Millionaires (BCHL)) knocked in his team-best eighth goal of the year. Sophomore Steve Charest (Amqui, Quebec/Walpole Express (AJHL)) went on to add his first goal of the season before classmate Adam Graff (Bear, DE/Syracuse Stars (EJHL)) found the back of the net to give UC an 8-3 lead.  Charest and Graff both finished the night with one goal and two assists. Gaffney finished the day just like he started, with a goal, as the Pioneers skated to the six goal victory. 

Sophomore goalie Evan Smith (Penticton, British Columbia/Calgary Royals (AJHL)) stopped 25 shots in his third win of the season, while his counterpart Kevin Carr made 32 saves for Buffalo State before being pulled late in the third period. 

Sophomore speedster Chris Santiago (Langley, British Columbia/Surrey Eagles (BCHL)) registered a team-high three assists and Hertz recorded three points on one goal and two assists.  Coffman had a two point night and he now needs two assists to break the College's all-time assists record which is currently held by former All-American and Pioneer Hall of Famer Jimmy Sokol '05.  Junior forward Evan Chlanda (Islip, NY/Springfield (EJHL)) recorded two assists on the night.

The Pioneers return to the Aud next Friday when they take on Potsdam at 7 p.m.  The following night Utica will remain at home and take on Salve Regina at the seventh annual New York Sash Teddy Bear Toss. Fans who bring a stuffed animal to the game will receive free admission and when the Pioneers score their first goal fans are able to throw the stuffed animals out onto the ice for collection and distribution to local charities through the holiday season. 

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